GIL NEWS »

En Route

Departure from North America.

Arrival

Upon arrival to Israel, proceed to the Steimatzky book store to meet your driver.

Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv

Start the day with a visit to the Independence Hall where the establishment of the state of Israel was declared.

Next, drive to Latrun to visit the new “Mini Israel” park including miniature models of the most important sites and buildings in the country.

Continue to visit Ayalon Institute, once an ammunition factory for the Hagana, the underground movement before May 1948.

Proceed to Yad Mordechai, named after Mordechai Anilevitz, leader of the Warsaw Ghetto; Visit the restored battle fields of the war of liberation and learn about their heroic story.

Overnight Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv

Visit the Diaspora Museum.

Drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, center of business and entertainment of Israel.

Stop at Rabin's Square, place of assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin.

Continue to Old Jaffa, an 8000 year old port city. Visit the ancient ruins and walk along the restored artist's quarter.

Visit Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909 and
Nahalat Benyamin, the pedestrian street of the city with its musicians, hand made jewellery and artifacts .

Next , stop at Sheinkin , the lively and colorful street especially known with the unique shops, caf? life and youthful ambiance.

Overnight Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv

Enjoy a free day in the city .

Overnight Tel Aviv.

Caesarea

Coastal Route

Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the crusaders' city, the aqueduct and the amphitheater which has been restored as a concert venue.

Proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mount Carmel and visit “AF AL PI CHEN,” the naval museum of the illegal immigration to Israel at the time of the British mandate.

Drive to Acre. Walk along the old harbor and local market.

Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra, descend by cable into the limestone grottoes.

Overnight at a Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee.

Jeep Tour

Tel Hai

Day 7 - Monday

Galilee | Golan

Drive to Safed, center of Kaballa movement. Visit the Joseph Caro and the Ha’ Ari synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city. Stroll around the the Artist’s quarter.

Enjoy a jeep tour to the foot of the Golan.

Continue to the Golan Heights.

Stop at an observation point over the city of Kuneitra, and the Syrian territory.

Stop at Tel Facher, a former Syrian army camp.

Visit the Banias springs.

Next, a visit to Tel-Hai. See the “Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920.

Then return to our hotel fo dinner and overnight. Meet with a Kibbutz member and learn about their unique lifestyle.

Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee.

Galilee | Jerusalem

This morning, drive to Tiberias to visit Rambam’s grave.

Proceed to Beit Shean, also called "Scythopolis," the biggest archeological park in Israel with beautiful excavations from Roman and Byzantine periods.

Stop at Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period.

Onto Gan Hashlosha (Sachne), where you will have an opportunity to enjoy the water springs located at the foot of the Mount Gilboa, the famous mountain on which King Saul was killed in the battle against the philistines.

Continue via the Jordan valley to Jerusalem.

Stop at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the city,

Overnight Jerusalem.

Jerusalem: Old City

Tour the old city of Jerusalem.

Start with a visit of the tomb of King David on Mount Zion.

Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road; Visit the four Sepharadic synagogues restored after 1967 war in the Jewish quarter.

Tour the Western Wall Tunnels.

Visit the Davidson Center and walk through the Roman Cardo, to the local Arab bazaar.

Walk through Jaffa gate to the David’s Tower museum and see the ancient remains of the city beginning with the first Temple period.

Overnight, Jerusalem.

Yad Vashem

Ammunition Hill

Jerusalem: New City

Depart the hotel and arrive to the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem.

OPTIONAL:
Celebrate a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall (Kotel)

Continue to Mea Shearim and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities.

Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the Menorah with the Biblical emblems.

Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and the new Holy Land Model – a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period.

Drive to Mount Hertzl, the military cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust.

Visit the Ammunition Hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.

Overnight Jerusalem.

Massada | Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea.

Stop at Qumeran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Continue to Massada, ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress; visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, the bathhouses etc. Descend by cable car.

Then stop for lunch and swim (actually float) at the Dead Sea and use of spa facilities in one of the leading hotels in the area.

Return to Jerusalem.

Overnight Jerusalem.

Jerusalem

Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

Negev | Eilat

Travel south to the Negev desert, visit Israel’s Airforce Museum at Hatzerim to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force.

Visit Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley.

Stop at Mitzpe Ramon to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder.

Drive to Timna to see the copper mines and King Solomon’s pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations.

Overnight, Eilat.

Eilat

Today, we enjoy a free day in Eilat..

Stroll around teh city's streets, the beach promenade and enjoy the water sports activities on your own..

Overnight in Eilat.

Eilat | Tel Aviv

Visit the Underwater Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a coral reef.

Drive to Mamshit for a Camel ride experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent, Learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch.

Drive back to Tel Aviv for overnight.

Overnight, Tel Aviv.

En Route
Transfer to Ben-Gurion airport for departure. Your driver will meet you in your hotel lobby 3.5 hours before departure.

RATES for Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah Ceremony

Rabbi’s fee for one Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah participant is $500.

The rate includes:

• Correspondence with family by the Rabbi, meeting in Jerusalem by the Rabbi prior to the ceremony, officiating at service, use of prayer pamphlets and Rabbi’s personal Torah scroll, Rabbi’s transportation, and including Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah certificate from the Ministry of Tourism.

Reform and Conservative ceremonies will be officiated at the Southern Wall area.

To the above rate, please add for the transfer to be arranged by Kenes Tours, from the Western Wall Plaza to the Israel Museum $12 per taxi (4 passengers per taxi).